Expandable inflatable structure

ABSTRACT

An inflatable, expandable structure comprises a first inflatable member and a first air blower adapted to provide a continuous flow of air to erect the first inflatable member, and a second inflatable member engaged with and in fluid communication with the first inflatable member. The second inflatable member is expandable from a first position wherein the second inflatable member is substantially deflated and secured substantially adjacent to the first inflatable member, to a second position where the second inflatable member is inflated and extends outward from the first inflatable member. A movable curtain or curtains may cover one or more entrances to the space formed by the inflated structure.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication Ser. No. 60/730,922 filed on Oct. 27, 2005, now pending,which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety into thisspecification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Inflatable structures such as tents, shelters, and lawn ornaments, arewell known. However, such conventional inflatable structures do notallow the inflatable structure to be selectively increased or expandedin size.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One object of the present invention is to provide an inflatablestructure than can be expanded to increase the overall size of thestructure.

The present invention comprises a first inflatable member and a firstair blower adapted to provide a continuous flow of air to erect thefirst inflatable member. The device further comprises a secondinflatable member engaged with and selectively in fluid communicationwith the first inflatable member. The second inflatable member isexpandable from a first position wherein the second inflatable member issubstantially deflated and secured substantially adjacent to the firstinflatable member, to a second position wherein the second inflatablemember is inflated and extends outwardly from the first inflatablemember.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The following description of the invention will make reference to theaccompanying drawings, in which;

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an embodiment of the presentinvention, with the second inflatable member collapsed and secured tothe first inflatable member;

FIG. 2 is a top view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a front view showing the entrance/exit portion that allows aperson to enter or exit the space formed by the first inflatable member;

FIG. 4 is a rear view showing the second inflatable member in thecollapsed position and having an entrance/exit portion that allows aperson to enter and exit the space formed by the structure;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a fastener disposed on theoutermost inflatable archway support member, adapted to receive andsecure the second inflatable member in its collapsed state;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view representing the connection between theinflatable base support members of the first inflatable member and theinflatable base support members of the second inflatable member,including a tie-off used to selectively prevent air flow into the secondinflatable member;

FIG. 7 is a rear perspective view thereof showing the second inflatablemember collapsed upon the end of the first inflatable member and heldthereto by fasteners and a closed tie-off to prevent air flow into thesecond inflatable member;

FIG. 8 is a side view showing the second inflatable member in itsexpanded state;

FIG. 9 is a top view thereof;

FIG. 10 is a rear view thereof, showing the entrance/exit portion thatallows a person to enter and exit the second inflatable member;

FIG. 11 is a rear perspective view showing the second inflatable memberin the expanded position, with the inflatable base support members ofthe first inflatable member connected to and in fluid communication withthe inflatable base support of the second inflatable member, and withthe tie-off in open or released condition to allow air flow into thesecond inflatable member.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 1-7, one embodiment of the present invention is astructure 10 for use as a lawn decoration and play house. The structure10 generally comprises a first inflatable member 12 and a first airblower 14 adapted to provide a continuous flow of air to erect the firstinflatable member 12, in known manner. The first air blower 14 may beconnected to the first inflatable member by a sleeve 16 (FIG. 2).Referring to FIGS. 8-11, the device 10 further comprises a secondinflatable member 18 engaged with and selectively in fluid communicationwith the first inflatable member 12. The second inflatable member 18 isexpandable from a first position wherein the second inflatable member issubstantially deflated and secured substantially adjacent to the firstinflatable member 12 (see FIGS. 1 and 2), to a second position where thesecond inflatable member 18 is inflated and extends outwardly from thefirst inflatable member 12 (See FIGS. 8 and 9).

Returning to FIGS. 1-7, the first inflatable member 12 includes aplurality of fasteners 20 adapted to removably secure the collapsedsecond inflatable member 18 to the first inflatable member 12 at aposition substantially adjacent to the first inflatable member 12. Asseen in FIG. 5, each of the fasteners 20 may comprise a first strapportion 22 having a first end portion 26 connected to the firstinflatable member 12, and a second end portion 28 having a hook fastenerportion 30. Each of the fasteners 22 further comprise a second strapportion 24 having a first end portion 32 connected to the firstinflatable member 12 and a second end portion 34 having a loop fastenerportion 36. The hook fastener portion 30 is adapted to removably engagewith the loop fastener portion 36 to wrap around and secure thecollapsed second inflatable member 18 to the first inflatable member 12at a position substantially adjacent to the first inflatable member 12.[See FIG. 1].

With continued reference to FIGS. 1-7, the first inflatable member 12further comprises a plurality of inflatable base support members 38 andthe archway support members 40, respectively, that are in fluidcommunication with each other. The inflatable base support members 38are disposed on opposite sides of the first inflatable member 12 and arein contact with the ground. The first air blower 14 is connected by thesleeve 16 to one of the inflatable base support member 38. Activation ofthe first air blower 14 causes ambient air to enter into and inflate theinflatable base support members 38 and the inflatable archway supports40 to erect the first inflatable member 12. A second blower 42 ispreferably connected by a sleeve 44 to the other inflatable base supportmember 38 to assist in inflating the base support members 38 and theinflatable archway supports 40. The base support members are alsoattached to and in fluid communication with decorative support members39, which serve to provide further stability to the structure.

The inflatable base support members 38, decorative support members 39,and inflatable archway support members 40 of the first inflatable member12 are made from well known air-permeable materials such as nylon.Similarly, the inflatable base support members 46 and inflatable archwaysupport members 48 of the second inflatable member 18 are made from anair permeable material. The first inflatable member 12 may furthercomprise a mesh netting 52 spanning between adjacent inflatable archwaysupport members 40 and connected by conventional means such as sewing.The mesh netting 52 may be made from nylon.

As best shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the second inflatable member 18comprises an inflatable archway support member 48 connected to andselectively in fluid communication with a pair of inflatable basesupport members 46. The inflatable base support members 46 are connectedto and in fluid communication with the inflatable base support members38 of the first inflatable member 12. As seen in FIGS. 6 and 11, thestructure 10 includes an air tie-off 50 located at the interface of eachcorresponding inflatable base support members 46 with the inflatablebase support member 38 of the first inflatable member 12. In thecollapsed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the tie-offs 50 are closed toprevent any air flow from the inflatable base support members 38 of thefirst member 12 into the inflatable base support members 46 of thesecond inflatable member 18. The inflatable base support members 46 andthe inflatable archway support member 48 of the second inflatable member18 are inflated upon release of the tie-offs 50 and fasteners 20,allowing air from the blower(s) to expand the second inflatable member18 from the first position (FIGS. 1 and 2) to the second position (FIGS.8 and 9). The second inflatable member 18 may further comprise a meshnetting 54 spanning from the inflatable archway support member 48 of thesecond inflatable member 18 to the inflatable archway support member 40of the first inflatable member 12 and connected by conventional meanssuch as sewing. The mesh netting 54 may be made from nylon.

As seen in FIG. 3, the first inflatable member 12 may further comprisean entrance way 62 having a curtain 64 adapted to allow a person toenter and exit the space formed by the first inflatable member 12 (forexample by having the curtain constructed in two overlapping portionsthat may be parted in the middle). Similarly, the second inflatablemember 18 may comprise an entrance way 66 having a curtain 68 adapted toallow a person to enter and exit via the second inflatable member 18.

In operation, activation of the air blowers 14 and 42 causes theinflatable base support members 38 and inflatable archway supportmembers 40 to inflate and thus erect the first inflatable member 12.(FIGS. 1 and 2). When it is desired to expand the size of the structure,one may release the tie-offs 50 and fasteners 20, thereby allowing airfrom the blowers to flow from the inflatable base support members 38 ofthe first inflatable member 12 into the inflatable base support members46 and inflatable archway support member 48 of the second inflatablemember 18. As air flows into the inflatable base support members 46, thesecond inflatable member 18 is caused to expand outward from the firstinflatable member 12 thereby increasing the overall size of thestructure 10.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms withoutdeparting from the spirit and/or scope of the specification and appendedclaims.

1. An inflatable, expandable structure comprising: a first inflatablemember; a first air blower adapted to provide a continuous flow of airto erect said first inflatable member; and a second inflatable memberengaged with and selectively in fluid communication with said firstinflatable member; said second inflatable member being expandable from afirst position wherein said second inflatable member is substantiallydeflated and positioned substantially adjacent to said first inflatablemember to a second position where said second inflatable member isinflated and extends outward from said first inflatable member.
 2. Theinflatable, expandable structure of claim 1, wherein said firstinflatable member comprises at least one fastener adapted to secure saidsecond inflatable member to said first inflatable member in said firstposition.
 3. The inflatable, expandable structure of claim 2, whereinsaid first inflatable member further comprises a plurality of inflatablebase support member connected to and in fluid communication with aplurality of inflatable archway support members; at least one of saidsupport members being in fluid communication with said air blower toerect said first inflatable member.
 4. The inflatable, expandablestructure of claim 3, wherein said second inflatable member furthercomprises a plurality of inflatable base support members connected toand in fluid communication with an inflatable archway support member; atleast one of said base support members of said second inflatable memberbeing connected to and selectively in fluid communication with at leastone of said inflatable base support members of said first inflatablemember to allow air flow into said inflatable base support members andsaid inflatable archway support, whereby upon release of said fastenersaid second inflatable member may be inflated to expand from said firstposition to said second position.
 5. The inflatable, expandablestructure of claim 4, wherein inflation of said first inflatable memberforms a space that may be entered by a person, and wherein said memberfurther comprises an entrance way adapted to allow a person to enterinto and exit from the space.
 6. The inflatable, expandable structure ofclaim 5, wherein said second inflatable member, in its deflated state,further comprises an entrance way adapted to allow a person to enter andexit the space formed by inflation of said first inflatable member. 7.The inflatable, expandable structure of claim 6, further comprising asecond air blower connected to at least one of the inflatable basesupport members of the first inflated member to facilitate the inflationand erection of said first inflatable member.
 8. The inflatable,expandable structure of claim 7, wherein said fastener of said firstinflatable member comprises a first strap portion having a hook fastenerportion and a second strap portion having a loop fastener portion; saidhook fastener portion being adapted to removably engage with said loopfastener portion with said collapsed second inflatable member securedtherebetween.
 9. The inflatable, expandable structure of claim 8,wherein said inflatable base support members and said archway supportmembers of said first inflatable member are each made from an airpermeable material.
 10. The inflatable, expandable structure of claim 9,wherein said inflatable base support members and said archway supportmember of said second inflatable member are each made from an airpermeable material.
 11. A structure comprising: an inflatable memberforming a space that is at least partially enclosed by the member wheninflated, an entrance portion of the member through which a person mayenter into the space, and a curtain attached to the member and coveringthe entrance portion, said curtain being movable to allow the person toenter the space.